Forty-eight year old American singer-song writer Natalie Merchant brought out her fifth solo album in 2010, titled “Leave Your Sleep”. On this two-disc album, she has recorded songs that are inspired by 19th and 20th century British and American poems. Well-known poets featuring on her track list are ee cummings, Ogden Nash, Robert Graves, and Charles Causley. A name on the track list that stands out to me is Laurence Alma-Tadema, who was the eldest daughter of Dutch painter Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.
I love this concept and I admire Natalie Merchant’s music, especially her album “Motherland” (2001). In the added YouTube video she sings “Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience” by Charles Causley.
